What exactly does that mean " the time line for the donation, did not meet the time line for installation"? How about you admit the truth Dr Wilson. You lost a very generous donation. Now we have a sub par security system that is coming out of the SPS budget. Good job!

This is an embarrassing moment for our entire town. This super and the committtee should hang their heads in shame.

The anonymous donor that came forward was one of the most positive stories, maybe across the country, to follow the tragedy at Newtown. This was important on so many levels. For developing a giving community and encouraging donors throughout the district.

This is an absolute failure of leadership on the part of Dr. Wilson, who incidently was recently given an extended contract.. Does the school committee have any good sense at all? This committee is like a rudderless boat. Why would we want to elect someone who was handpicked to replace Gutch? I am voting for NASSA.

Propaganda Patch to the rescue!

Thanks a lot Sudbury Patch. You just made me choke on my grilled cheese. Rich Robison was on the school committee when my kids were in town. That is a long time. He seriously doesn't know how much it cost to educate a student? More of the same in this town I guess.

Is it possible to have Scott Nassa start immediately?

This doesn't add up. This donation was announced at least a couple of times by Dr. Wilson. What changed? I suspect there is more to the story. As a parent of young kids in the schools, it would be reassuring to hear why they went with this system rather than because it was cheaper and faster. Regardless - a big thank you to the donor who at least tried to do something wonderful and important for the schools.

Robison does not know the cost per student at SPS???? You are kidding me.
Why don't you ask Scott Nassa, he could tell without hesitation. This is the problem with our current school committee and administration. Totally clueless!!

"The Ch. 70 grant is separate from the METCO grant," Robison said. "The METCO grant provides additional staff, transportation and additional expenses."

Now, does the METCO grant on its own pay for the additional staff, transportation and additional expenses including benefits and OPEB allocation, or is SPS dipping into the Chapter 70 fund to make the payments for METCO staff and transit? Last time I checked in March 2010, the answer from the SPS committee was:

"If you are referring to the benefit costs for METCO staff, those are not covered by the grant. The benefit costs are more than covered, however, by the Chapter 70 money we receive for these students -- money we would not receive if we did not have the METCO program. So, we do cover all of the "administrative/bus/tutoring" costs of the program with state funding (METCO grant plus Chapter 70). "

So while Chapter 70 money for all other students goes to the general fund, for METCO students it is required to be used to cover administrative expenses (in 2010).

METCO is a quality program that needs to continue. But like other programs and decisions we make, it has financial trade offs. The state continues to not step up to provide appropriate levels of funding for METCO and Sudbury taxpayers have to fill in the difference.

SPS - please be direct and clear on this matter.

SPS's fuzzy math aside, how the heck does Rich Robison not know how much it cost to educate a child in Sudbury? That seems like a number that any and every committee member or administrator should know. How the heck are these people put in charge of a budget if they don't know basic numbers such as these?

I hope people in town realize how much trouble we are in. If we don't start electing the right people we have nobody to blame except ourselves.

I'm sorry, but I don't understand how "the timeline" for a donation didn't align? If someone makes a donation, how do we lose it due to the time to implement? Can someone connect the dots for me?

On Thursday 3/14 I was driving past the Noyes School by the Flynn Bldg. when a young student darted out into the road. The driver in front of me narrowly avoided hitting him. I looked around and didn't see any crossing guards or any adult supervision. Yesterday, I went by about the same time and again no adult supervision.
Dr. Wilson and her administration constantly write and talk about the safety of children. Where does the safety line end? I would think it should continue out to the end of the driveway of the Peter Noyes School.
Dr. Wilson don't wait until there is an accident and a child gets hurt. I think this situations, no adult crossing guards, calls into question as to what safety means to you.I don't know whose duty it is to see that the crossing of Rt#27, or any street, is supervised, yours or Mrs. Doyle?
Please review your committment to the safety of our children!!!

It happens at dismissal Kirsten. Its not unusal to have no crossing guard.

Kirsten
Around 3:30PM

I believe the crossing guards are paid. The one @ Noyes is.

Please let's not get too weighed down in side issues. What is addressed in this article is really upsetting. How do these two systems stack up against one another and why did the cheaper one have to be rushed. From my understanding, the $100k system was going to be pretty state-of-the-art. Every parent in Sudbury should be wondering what on earth happened here!? And Dr. Wilson's explanation just sounds like total double-talk. Enough is enough already.

What did Bob Armour say?

"how often will a tragedy like Newtown ever occur" ONCE is too many!

No way! He said that! I thought we had a smart one in him. I don't trust him with my kids' lives. Bet the folks in Newtown or Columbine didn't see those events coming. But us? We have now seen what is possible......

Shame on us if we don't mitigate the risk as much as reasonably possible. This committee is leaderless and vision impaired.

I can't wait until Monday 3/25 to elect Nassa.